I shouldn’t be surprised that a Yankees-Red Sox game would be so fraught with drama – not after all these years – but tonight’s nail biting win made my blood pressure go off the charts. Where do I start?
With Phelps. He was great. I hope his outing doesn’t get lost in all the hubbub because he was the one who kept the Red Sox bats quiet.
It was so nice to see us score first – and then to pad the lead. But no game at Fenway is ever in the bag, especially when things haven’t been going our way lately, so I was hoping for a few more runs. Instead, it was the battle of the pens as the Sox crept closer…and closer.
By the way, was Cody Ross a maniac or what? He had a legitimate beef about the strike call, but to hold the bat over his head facing the umpire and then go off like that? It almost rose to the level of Mr. Pine Tar.
Soriano was terrifying too, but in an entirely different way. He turned the ninth into a near horror show. But it was Jeter leaving the game that was the worst. (I’m beginning to think nobody should ever run to first base. It’s a health hazard.) He was gimpy even before tonight, but having re-aggravated the bone bruise in his ankle I can’t imagine he’ll be at full strength. Will he DH? I’m sure he’ll say he’s up to it. But – listen to me, Girardi – don’t use Nunez at short or you’ll have me to deal with.
And yes, of course, the O’s beat the Rays. It was Kyle Farnsworth on the mound, and he’s never helped us out.
*grumble* *grumble* *grumble*
If we can’t score except on home runs, we’re in BIG trouble the rest of the way. We won tonight — barely, almost blowing that 5-1 lead — but the signs don’t look good.
I REALLY hope I’m wrong…
And will the [expletive deleted] Orioles ever cool off? Even if we make it in, if we’re a wild card I don’t like the idea of a best-of-1 with our playoff lives hanging in the balance. We MUST win the division.
It was scary but I’m still happy. I listened to the game because it was blacked out here and I didn’t want red sox announcers and to watch with a red sox fan. Somehow the radio made me less nervous. We are hurting but we are still in first. I keep watching the highlights and am smiling today. I am still quite worried but I’ll keep smiling for today
Phelps was the big plus in this game – obviously we needed that. I was especially impressed with the way he got out of trouble with the lead off hitting getting a triple. It was also nice to see The Red Sox making some bad defensive plays. Valentine and Ross were BOTH crazy after that call…which I don’t think was THAT obviously wrong. While it hit the mitt low, I think it was just in the strike zone as it crossed the plate…but I’m a Yankee fan. Obvioulsy we are ALL worried about Jeet, but something tells me he’ll be fine. Unfortunately, I don’t think he would ever say he’s not able to play, unless an arm or leg actually fell off. I guess DH’ing would help a little but he still has to run the bases which he does all out every time. Well, let’s all hope for a W for our boys in pinstripes and a L for Baltimore. GO YANKEES!!!
Yes, Jeter limping off the field was the worst part of the game. We need him to lead this team on the field and in the batter’s box. I do hope he gets some rest and heals quickly.
Cody Ross was ridiculous. It may have been a manifestation of the overall frustration the Red Sox players feel but there is no excuse for that kind of behavior. Mr. Ross should have borne in mind he had been given a gift on an earlier pitch in that sequence and taken that call with dignity. Something about Boston turns its players into total a-holes.
I don’t like the wild card thing either, Sean. I’m really hoping for the division.
Smiling and happy is good, Barbara. Let’s hope it’ll last for awhile.
I’m used to Valentine acting crazy, Diane – hasn’t he had more ejections than any manager or close to? – but Ross was a maniac. And if, as Audrey suggests, it was a manifestation of his frustration with the season, I would understand that more if he’d been with the Red Sox longer. My friends who are Giants fans said he never acted like that there. Strange.
That was a weird game. I’m still uncomfortable that we aren’t easily beating a last place team, when the division is on the line. I know, the last place team is Boston, and you can never take them lightly, but you MUST take advantage of the team’s with losing records. Are we going to have this much trouble against Minnesota, too? Please, Yankees, don’t let the last place Red Sox be spoilers! It should help that Pedroia will probably miss tonight’s game. He’s one of the few bona fide Red Sox stars who are still playing. The Cody Ross outburst was something else…..I can’t believe how mad he was…that was a tad scary.
Phew. One more day to breeathe sloowly…
Every night that they pull one of these out, you keep hoping that THIS was the game that turned them around. And then, there’s nights like the night before last. When we’re able to step back (certainly not right now), we know that this “exquisite agony” is why we love the game so much. But we’ll be running out of Tums (and rum) and Maalox (and…pick your sedative) soon if things don’t pick up. Maybe the A’s can cool off the O’s…but at this point, never expect favors…still, they need it bad, too…so who knows…
Cody Ross. An interesting character. It IS likely something about Bahston. I clearly recall that back on Patriot Day, or whatever the Bostonians call that day they run their Marathon, and the Sawx often have a home game too, he was caught looking in a VERY similar situation for the last out of the game — and he did a very similar freakout (maybe worse, as it was the last out). I was amused, as it cemented another early-season L for the Sawx…but I recall Ross with the Giants and the Marlins too, and he wasn’t like that, as Jane’s friends noted. One thing for sure…you “show up” an ump like that, and it’s time for the showers.
A tad scary is right, Ruth. I could never be an ump. I hate to be yelled at!
Interesting about Ross on Patriot’s Day, Dave. Maybe he needs to adjust his meds….Just saying.
0 for 13 with RISP against the division doormat, but, the Yanks narrowly escape with a win. Granderson’s bat wakes up, and Jeter goes down. It was a W, but hardly a morale boosting one. This is wearing me out.
Stay strong, NYL. We’ve still got a couple of weeks to go.